Former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev Samson Ayokunle, has urged President Bola Tinubu to take urgent and decisive measures to address hunger, insecurity and the rising cost of living in Nigeria.
Ayokunle made the call on Friday while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the 10th anniversary of the Oritamefa Baptist Model School Cambridge A’Level College in Yemetu, Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The cleric said the economic situation had made it increasingly difficult for many Nigerians to survive, urging the Federal Government to introduce policies that would provide direct relief to citizens.
He said the removal of the petrol subsidy might have been introduced as an economic policy, but argued that the decision had worsened hardship because adequate measures had not been put in place to cushion its effects on Nigerians.
“There is hunger in the land, and the cost of living is too high. It is good that the subsidy was removed, but what is the average earning today in Nigeria compared to other oil-producing nations?”
Ayokunle also linked the economic pressure to the devaluation of the naira, saying the combination had pushed many Nigerians into severe financial difficulty.
“It is very difficult for Nigerians to breathe economically, and a serious government that will not play politics with human lives must address this urgently.”
On insecurity, the former CAN president called for determined leadership to confront terrorism, banditry and other criminal activities.
He said Nigerians would experience relief if political leaders were committed to addressing the security crisis and were not complicit in insecurity.
“The moment leaders are no longer complicit in insecurity, Nigerians will breathe a sigh of relief.”
Ayokunle also called for greater government accountability in the education sector. He said the government should not only release funds for education but also monitor how such funds are used.
He made the comments while commending the educational work of Oritamefa Baptist Church, describing education as one of the major areas of ministry associated with the Nigerian Baptist Convention, alongside church building and medical services.
Speaking about Nigeria’s political future, including the 2027 elections, Ayokunle expressed optimism that the country would overcome its current challenges.
“Concerning 2027, what God revealed to me is that whatever happens to this nation, Nigeria will still survive and His will alone will manifest.”
He said Nigerians should not give up on the country, while stressing that stronger and more determined leadership would be necessary to address the nation’s problems.
Earlier at the event, the immediate past pastor of Oritamefa Baptist Church, Rev Remi Awopegba, urged Nigerian youths not to allow their circumstances to limit their ambitions.
“Don’t allow your environment to limit you. Start from where you are, because we realised that progress is driven by vision rather than certificates alone.”
Awopegba recalled that the college began with 29 students and had since grown into an academic institution focused on developing students for global opportunities.
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